Approved Romantic Literature

[this first-draft dream of mine]

....is bought by Iron & Misery? What? Why would an engine-maker be interested in buying romantic literature? Is this a lore thing or a backend typo?

[The Destined Dead]

The guys tend to be stuck on the island for a good while. Most likely, they're just looking for something to break up the monotony. I mean, there are guys there willing to be hired for a single Echo so /ANYTHING/ is better than just mushrooms all day.

[this first-draft dream of mine]

The Iron & Misery company in London, though, surely the city is enough entertainment for them? I mean, if it was their Funging Station that was buying it up, I could see your explanation being very appropriate, but this is their storefront back home.

[The Destined Dead]

Oh! Most likely because there hasn't been an appropriate shop for it yet. That, or it's being used as bedding.

Alternatively, the place is just as weird as their funging station and they need the entertainment.

[Hound Archon]

This is definitely a lore thing. Romance and, more importantly, stories of romance play a crucial (if not obvious) role in Fallen London.

"Whatever you do, don't fall in love."

[The Destined Dead]

Originally posted by Hound Archon:

This is definitely a lore thing. Romance and, more importantly, stories of romance play a crucial (if not obvious) role in Fallen London.

"Whatever you do, don't fall in love."

Love and love stories are indeed vital, but so are stories of substance, especially those where someone starts with extreme odds against them but manages to overcome them, or at least keep going until they've failed outright (a central theme to Fallen London). However, why these guys want love stories that are approved by the Ministry of Public Decency is curious. At best, it means they've scribbled out all the naughty stuff and at worst, it's essentially a book with more than half of it inked out to prevent 'corrupting one's mind.' If they're collecting them for certain collectors, I wonder how useful they could actually find them.